Umbrella



E. OKUN 2,510,597

UMBRELLA 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1950 Filed Oct. 5, 1946 FIG.2

FIG. I

E. OKUN UMBRELLA J1me 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1946 FIG. 11

- INVENTOR EDWARD QKUN BY ATTORNZBMW FIG. 10

Patented June 6, 1950 UIWBRELLA Edward Okun, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to American Folding Umbrella Company, Long Island City,

N. Y., a partnership Application October 5, 1946, Serial No. 701,509

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularly to folding umbrellas, although some of the features of the invention are applicable to non-folding umbrellas.

The general objectof the present invention is to improve umbrellas, and more particularly, thoughnot exclusively, folding umbrellas.

Some'objects o f .the invention center about the pivotal connection between the inner ends of the ribs and the rib retainer at the end of the umbrella stick. The usual practice is to use a wire the ends of which are twisted together to secure the wire and ribs on the retainer. This requires hand labor to apply and twist the wire. The twisting weakens the wire and tends to break the same. The soft wire is not suitable forlong wear. When fastening the wire in position, an extra twist may break the wire, while on the other hand, too littletwist-may leave the wire loose in the retainer groove. Finally, the twisted end of the wire is unsightly, and tends to cut the cloth of the umbrella. To overcome all of the foregoing difficulties is one prime object of the present invention.

A similar statement may be made in respect to the pivotal connection between-the inner ends of the spreaders, and the runner which slides on the umbrella stick. These'have heretofore been secured by means of a twisted wire extending around a groove On the runner, with all of the attendant difficulties previously described for the rib retainer. A. further object of the present invention is to improve the pivotal connection between the-Spreaders and the runner, with a View to eliminating the aforesaid difficulties.

Folding umbrellas commonly employ an umbrella stick made up of telescopically related metal tubes. The handle of theumbrella may be provided witha skirt-like flange adapted to hold the rib tips close to the stick when the urnbrella is closed, and to hold the rib hinges close to the stick when the umbrella is folded. This requires a number of different relative positions of the telescopic tubes, 'together with appropriate detent means ior'maintainin those positions. Spring-pressed balls have been used as a detent, with considerable attendant trouble and expense. A. further object of the present invention is to'retain the smooth and satisfactory operation of spring-pressed balls,-while elimi Hating the need for separate balls and spring and retainer for holding the same.

The inner tube of the telescopic umbrella stick is closed at each end by'suita-ble studs, the stud at one end providing-a stop ledge to limit extension of the stick, and the stud at the other end receiving the regular handle of the umbrella. Further features and objects of the invention center about these studs and a method of securel locking them in the tube.

To accomplish the foregoing objects and others which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the umbrella-elements and their relation one to the other, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the upper end of the umbrellastick, with the urnbrella frame in nearly fully opened condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cap which forms a part of the rib retainer andthe runner;

Fig. 3 is a section taken in the plane of the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of thesleeve portion of the rib retainer;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the sleeve portion of the runner;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation'thereof;

Fig.- 8 is a perspective view showing the inner end of a rib having integrally formed trunnions;

Fig, 9 is a perspective view of the inner end of a spreader having. integrally formed trunnions;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the umbrella in folded condition, with the fabric omitted;

Fig. 11 is a section through the upper end of the inner tube of the umbrella stick; and

Fig. 12 is a. perspective view of a detent forming a part of the invention, drawn to enlarged scale.

The particular umbrella here illustrated is a folding umbrella of the type disclosed in my prior patents, Re. 21,492, granted June 25, 1940, and 2,221,288, grantedNovember 12, 1940, but some of the features of the invention are applicable to non-folding umbrellas, especially of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,221,289, granted Novem-' ber 12, 1940.

Referring to the drawing,- and more particu-' larly to Fig. 10, the umbrella is there shown in folded condition, with the fabric omitted, and

all but two of the ribs and spreaders omitted, in-

order 'not to unduly complicate the drawing. The umbrella comprises an umbrella stick made up of an outer tube l2, and a telescopically related-inner tube M. The end of the stick has secured thereto a rib retainer IE to which the inner ends of the ribs l8 are pivotally secured.- The'ribs themselves are foldable, and comprise not only the inner ribs !8, but also outer ribs 20 which are hingedly connected to the inner ribs by means of hinges 22. The ends of the outer ribs 20 may be provided with ornamental tips 24, made, for example, of one of the known plastics. The hinges 22 have trough-shaped hinge extensions 26 the primary purpose of which is to held the outer ribs 20 in alignment with the inner ribs l8 when the umbrella is opened. When the umbrella is folded, the hinge extensions 26 cooperate with a flange or skirt 28 on umbrella handle 30, to hold the ribs l8 close to the umbrella stick. The umbrella is opened with the aid of spreaders 32, the outer ends of which are pivotally con nected to the ribs l8 at 34, and the inner ends of which are pivotally connected to a runner 36. In Fig. 10, the runner is shown in its down position, but it will be understood that it may be slid upwardly on the umbrella stick to an up position, where it is retained by means of a spring catch 38. Fig. 1 of the drawing shows the runner approaching the spring catch.

Before opening the umbrella, the umbrella stick is extended by pulling the handle 30 (Fig. and with it the inner tube !4 from within the outer tube I2, this motion being limited byv a stop ledge All formed on a stud 42 closing the upper end of the inner tube I4. The stop ledge 40 bears against the inner end of a stop liner M forming a part of the outer tube l2. The stick is held in extended condition by a lock 45 ,(better shown in Fig. 11) carried by the inner tube I4, which lock moves out beneath the lower end of the tube l2 (Fig. 10). To prevent relative rotation of the handle and the umbrella, the lock 45 moves into one of a number of slots 4B,at the lower end of outer tube l2. tube against rotation relative to the outer tube. At this time the tips 24 of ribs 2!! are clear of the skirt 28 of handle 39, so that the umbrella may be opened. The handle 30 is screwed onto a threaded stud 5D the inner end 52 of which closes the lower end of the inner tube l4.

When the umbrella is in unfolded or extended condition, but closed, the skirt 28 of handle 38 may be used to hold the tips 24 of the ribs 2 close to the umbrella stick. For this purpose, the inner tube !4 may be slid slightly into the outer tube l2 so that the skirt 28 will surround, in

stead of being clear of, the tips 24, and appropriate detent means are provided to hold the tubes in that position.

In all, there are four umbrella positions to be taken care of by the disclosed mechanism; In

one position the umbrella stick is fully extended: and the ribs and cloth are opened by the spreaders and runner; in another, the umbrella stick is fully extended but the umbrella isclosed; another position is the same, except that the handle is moved slightly to surround and hold the tips of the ribs; and in the fourth position, the ribs are folded and the stick is telescoped, as shown in Fig. 10.

Considering the invention now in detail, and referring first to Fig. 8, the inner end of the umbrella rib i8 is provided with integrally formed trunnions 60 extending in opposite directions. These trunnions act as a pivot between the rib l8 and the ribretainer l6, as is shown in Fig. 1. The particular rib here shown is of the double spring wire type disclosed in my patents previously referred to. Such a rib is made up of spring wires 62 and Mterminated by a sheet metal fitting 66 having parts 68 curled about and clamped This locks the innerv on the wires 62 and 64, and having ears 10, which heretofore were simply perforated to receive a wire threaded through all of the ribs, said wire passing about a grooved runner, and having its ends twisted together, as previously mentioned. In accordance with the present invention, the sheet metal ears H! are preliminarily drawn by appropriate dies and stamping presses to provide the hollow trunnions 60 formed integrally with the ears 58. As here shown, the outer ends of the trunnions are closed, and the inner ends are open.

The rib retainer I6 (Fig. 1) is made up of a cap 72 and a sleeve portion M. The sleeve is flanged outwardly at It, and the flange is radial- 1 slotted as indicated at 18 (Fig. 4), to receive the inner ends of the ribs, or more specifically, the ears ill shown in Fig 8. The flange Hi together with the cap l2 provide a bearing space therebetween for receiving the trunnions 60.

The particular rib retainer here employed is best shown in Figs. 2 through 5 of the drawings. The cap #2 comprises a top wall 89, an inner wall 82, and a rim 84, the latter being shaped to receive and hold the edge of the flange 16. As here illustrated, the rim is internally grooved at 86 to receive the edge of the flange 16. The edge of rim 8% is preferably beveled as indicated at 88,

and this, together with the slots 90, make it possible to spring the cap onto the sleeve with a snap fit. In Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the edge of flange 16 may also be beveled, as indicated at 92. The sleeve is provided with means for securing it to the outer tube [2 of the umbrella stick, and in the form here shown, ther retainer is preliminarily secured to the umbrella stick, and in effect forms a part of the same. The

ribs are hung downwardly from the flang 1t, the

trunnions of each rib being supported by the flange. The cap 12 is then added, it being simply pressed downwardly with a snap fit, and thereafter operates to hold the ribs in position.

The spreader 32 may be a single heavy wire, as described in my earlier patents. The inner end of the spreader is flattened, as indicated at l0!) (Fig. 9), but instead of perforating the flattened end, as heretofore, the die which flattens the same is so shaped as to leave trunnions I02 projecting in opposite directions therefrom, these trunnions being integral with the spreader. Subsequent die operations may be performed to brin the trunnions to the cylindrical shape shown.

Reverting now to Fig. 1, the trunnions I82 are received in a bearing space formed in the runner 36 previously referred to. The runner is much like the retainer in being made up of a sleeve portion IM and a cap #06. The sleeve portion is better shown in Figs. 6 and '7, it comprising a cylindrical. part of sufficient diameter to slide readily on the umbrella stick, and a flange I138. The flange is preferably made identical in dimension with that of the rib retainer, so that th same c ap may be employed for both the retainer and the runner. A window II!) is cut through the sleeve IM to receive the spring catch 38 previ-q ously mentioned. The opposite end of the sleeve is flared outwardly slightly as shown at H2, in

5. Order to facilitate sliding movement on thestick, and more importantly, in order to retain an annular finger piece M4 on the sleeve. This finger piece l M is pushed upwardly when opening the umbrella, and is pulled downwardly wh n clos ing'theumbrella. During this downward movement, the sloping inner surface H6 of the finger piece bears against the catch 38, and cams it inwardly, thereby releasing'the runner for "downward movement. It will be understood th-at'both the flange E68 and the cap I06 are radially slotted and appropriately beveled andgroo-ved tofit together with a snap engagement, all as previously described. It will also beunderstood that the in nor ends of the spreaders are gathered together in proper position before: snapping the parts-oi the runner together. If the spreaders have been preliminarily riveted to the ribs, as is usually the case, the inner ends of thespreaders are gathered into the cap 1%, and the sleeve is then snapped into the cap.

Referring now to'Fig. 1-0, the hinge extensions 26 ar held withinskirt 28 of handle '30, and for this purpose the inner tube !4 is retained in position by detent projections l I8 received above the stop liner 4A. The detentprojections 1 I 8 are formed at the lower ends of the arms of an inverted U-shaped spring member 120 carried inside the tube It. Th projections H8 pass throughdiametrically opposed openings or windows I22 in tube 14.

The spring detent is best shownin Figl12, where it has been drawn to enlarged'scale. Until pushed into and confined by the tuba-the arms normally assume a widespread condition shown in broken lines at 1 20. The detent projections lid-are well rounded, and are-preferablynarrower in Width than the U-shaped portion 25. Thus adequate spring pressure maybe obtained, and the detent member is: better locked-against possible displacement within-thetube while at the same time the detent prejections- Nil-themselves are small, and actmuch likethespningpressed balls heretofore employed. The presen t improvement dispenses with the need fortwo balls, a compression spring for thesame, and retainer means to hold the-spring. andballsin position.

When the umbrella stick is in extended position, but the umbrella is closed with the skirt 28 of handle to around the tips 24 of the ribs, the inner tube hi is held in position by engagement of another set of detent projections I24 located near-the upper end of tube M. These cooperate with the same stop liner They are formed at th ends of a ll-shaped member I26 identical with that already described and shown in Fig. 12. The detent projections are received in diametrically opposed windows. as already described, the sole diiiierence being that it is convenient to insert the spring I25 through one end of the tube, and the s ring 52!! through the opposit end of the tube. so that the U-shaped portions face in opposite directions.

The lock 45 (Fig. 11) is itself formed asa part of a ll-shaped spring I28, and this is disposedin a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane oi the spring I26, so that there is no interference therebetween. In fact, the inner'edge of lock 46 maybe cut away, as indicated at I30, to safely clear the U-shaped spring I 26 when the lock is pushed inwardly. Whil the lock 45 holds the tube I l against inward movement and against rotation, the stop ledge 40 of stud 42 holds the tube 14 against outward movement or complete 6 removal from the outer tube. For'this purpose, thestop ledge-4o is larger in diameterthan the inner tube, and is largeenough in diameter to bear against th stop liner 44 (Fig. 10) previously referred to.

To secure the stud 42 in the end of tube M, the stud is peripherally grooved at I32, and the tube I4 is Spun inwardly at H34 to lock the stud and tube together. This eliminates the need for a diametrical cross pin or rivet, and provides a neater, better, and less expensive connection.

The stud '52 at the lower end of the inner tube It is similarly grooved at I35, and the tube I4 is spun inwardly at 538 to securely lock the parts against axial movement. In this case, however, the stud is preferably longitudinally knurled or fluted as indicated at use, before being driven into the tube, in order to further guard against any possibility of rotative movement of the stud relative to the tube. This is desirable so that the umbrella handle 393 may be screwed tightly onto the stick, and also to guard against anypos sibility of rotation of the handle and stud relative to the umbrella.

The stop liner 44 is secured within the outer tube it in any desired fashion, as by the use or tongues it?! received. in mating slots in the liner. The catch 36 may be secured on the outer tube I2 in any convenient manner, as by the use of a ring M4. The ornament I ls at the end of the umbrella stick is screwed in place, it being internally threaded to mate with a thread 4A8 formed at the free end of the tube l2 above the rib retainer It.

.It .is believed that the improved umbrella construction of my invention, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The use of 'trunnions formed at the inner ends of the ribs and spread;

ers, together with the rib retainer and runner which are assembled around the trunnions, provides a stronger, long wearing, simplified struotime. There is a substantial reduction in the labor needed to assemble the umbrella frame.

'' Similar remark applies to the dete-nts, which are simpler in structure, and require less labor for assembly than is the case with spring pressed ball detents. The end studs are secured to the inner tribe-oi the umbrella stick with less labor than with a "die-metrical pin, and. the resulting structure is stronger than that heretofore provided.

It will be apparent that while I have-shown and described my invention in one particular form, changes may be made in the structure shown, without departing from spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

Matters disclosed but not herein are claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 98,029, filed June '9, 1949,

Iclaim:

1. In an umbrella, a pivotal joint or connection, "said joint comprising a trunnion portion and a socket portion, the trunnion portion being formed at the render a wire and including a fit ting made of sheet metal, and having a part curled around and about the end of the wire, and another part beyond the end of the wire and being shaped to form parallel "ears which are pressed adjacent one another, each of said. ears being drawn outwardly to provide a slightly hollow cylindrical trunnion, said trunnions being coaxial and forming a pivot for the wire, said socket portion comprising a cylindrical sleeve flanged outwardly at its upper end to provide a fiat circular disc, and a cap having a cylindrical hub portion of the same diameter as the sleeve, a flat circular top parallel to and co-extensive with said flange, and a cylindrical rim wall bent downwardly from the top and having approximately the same diameter as the flange, there being some metal of the rim disposed beneath said flange to hold said cap and sleeve in fixed assembled relation, with a space therebetween receiving the trunnions, said flange, top and rim being radially slotted to receive the ears with the trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom in the aforesaid space.

' 2. In an umbrella, a pivotal joint or connection to be used between a rib and rib retainer, said joint comprising a trunnion portion and a socket portion, the trunnion portion being formed at the end of a rib having a collateral pair of wires and including a fitting having a part curled around and compressed about the end of one of the wires, and another part curled around and compressed about the end of the collateral wire, the remainder of said fitting projecting beyond the ends of the wires and being shaped to form parallel ears which are pressed adjacent one another, each of said ears being drawn outwardly to provide a slightly hollow cylindrical trunnion closed at its outer end, said trunnions being axial and forming a pivot for the rib, said socket portion comprising a cylindrical sleeve flanged outwardly at its upper end to provide a flat circular disc, and a cap having a cylindrical hub portion of the same diameter as the sleeve, a flat circular top parallel to and co-extensive with said flange, and a cylindrical rim wall bent downwarde ly from the top and having approximately the same diameter as the flange, there being some metal of the rim disposed beneath said flange to hold said cap and sleeve in fixed assembled relation, with a space therebetween receiving the trunnions, said flange, top and rim being radially slotted to receive the ears, with the trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom in the aforesaid space.

3. In an umbrella, a pivotal joint or connection comprising a trunnion portion and a socket portion, the trunnion portion being made of sheet metal, and being shaped to form parallel ears which are pressed adjacent one another, each of said ears being drawn outwardly to provide a slightly hollow cylindrical trunnion, said trunnions being coaxial and forming a pivot, said socket portion comprising radially slotted parts assembled together with the trunnions therebetween and with the ears in said slots.

4. In an umbrella, a pivotal joint or connection comprising a trunnion portion and a socket portion, the trunnion portion being formed at the end of a collateral pair of wires and including a fitting having a part curled around and compressed about the end of one of the wires, and another part curled around and compressed about the end of the collateral wire, the remainder of said fitting projecting beyond the ends of the wires and being shaped to form parallel ears which are pressed adjacent one another, each of said ears being drawn outwardly to provide a slightly hollow cylindrical trunnion closed at its outer end, said trunnions being coaxial and forming a pivot for the wires, said socket portion comprising radially slotted parts assembled together with the trunnions therebetween and with the ears in said slots.

5. In an umbrella joint or connection, a trunnion portion formed at the end of a collateral pair of wires and including a fitting having a part curled around and compressed about the end of one of the wires, and another part curled around and compressed about the end of the collateral wire, the remainder of said fitting projecting beyond the ends of the wires and being shaped to form parallel ears which are pressed adjacent one another, each of said ears being drawn outwardly to provide a slightly hollow cylindrical-trunnion closed at its outer end, said trunnions being coaxial and forming a pivot for V the joint or connection.

6. In an umbrella, a pivotal joint or connection to be used, for example, between a rib and rib retainer or between a spreader and a runner, said joint comprising a trunnion portion and a socket portion, the trunnion portion being formed at the end of a wire, and said socket portion comprising a cylindrical sleeve flanged outwardly at its upper end to provide a flat circular disc, and a cap having a cylindrical hub portion of the same diameter as the sleeve, a flat circular top parallel to and co-extensive with said flange, and a cylindrical rim wall bent downwardly from the top and having approximately the same diameter as the flange, there being some metal of the rim disposed beneath said flange to hold said cap and sleeve in fixed assembled relation, with a space therebetween receiving the trunnions, said flange, top and rim being radiall slotted.

7. In an umbrella, a pivotal joint or connection to be used between a rib and rib retainer, said joint comprising a trunnion portion and a socket portion, the trunnion portion being formed at the end of a rib, said socket portion comprising a cylindrical sleeve flanged outwardly at its upper end to provide a flat circular disc, and a cap having a cylindrical hub portion of the same diameter as the sleeve, a flat circular top parallel to and co-extensive with said flange, and a cylindrical rim wall bent downwardly from the top and having approximately the same diameter as the flange, there being some metal of the rim disposed beneath said flange to hold said cap and sleeve in fixed assembled relation, with a space therebetween receiving the trunnions, said flange, top and rim being radially slotted, said sleeve having inwardly struck, oppositely directed tongues to be received in mating recesses in a metal tubular umbrella stick in order to lock the rib retainer in proper position on the stick.

EDWARD OKUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA I E NTS Number Name Date 580,786 Jesson Apr. 13, 1897 720,537 Venen Feb. 10, 1903 1,081,126 Lewis Dec. 9, 1913 1,135,055 Schafier Apr. 13, 1915 2,173,305 Marx Sept. 19, 1939 2,221,289 Okun Nov. 12, 1940 

